Heatwave continues in many parts of China, National Observatory renews red alert for high temperatures

China's National Observatory on Tuesday renewed a red alert for high temperatures, the most severe warning in its four-level warning system, as heatwaves continue to engulf many parts of the country.

According to the National Meteorological Center, the temperature will be between 35 and 39 degrees Celsius in parts of Gansu, Shaanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Guangdong and Guangxi.

The Meteorological Center said temperatures could exceed 40 degrees Celsius in Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian. The Center said that local authorities should take emergency measures against the heatwave. Suspend outdoor work that forces workers to go into high temperatures. Use caution in terms of fire safety, and take special care of vulnerable groups.

Sun Shao, senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, told the Global Times that this year's heat wave is the strongest and longest since 1961.

A Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) official said last week the Yangtze River basin received the lowest summer rainfall in six decades. The center said that Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Chongqing, Sichuan and some areas of Tibet are still experiencing moderate to more than moderate drought.

China's National Observatory said this week that the ongoing heatwave over large parts of China is expected to subside after August 25.

The National Meteorological Center has predicted that the southern regions of China that are most affected by the heatwave may also see higher temperatures and decrease in intensity on August 26 and 27.